Boot construction



00b7, 1947. E. v. JAEGER ETAL BOOT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 3, 1946 I NV EN TOR5. EDWAPD l JAEGEQ RALPH M. PLYMPTON Patented Oct. 7, 1947 BOOT CONSTRUCTION Edward V. Jaeger, Denville, N. 1., and Ralph M. Plympton, Yarmouth Maine, assignors to R. C. Nichols Corporation, Yarmouth, Maine, a corporation of Maine Application August 3, 1946, Serial No. 688,222

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a boot construction, and, more particularly, to that type of hunting boot having a rubber foot section and a leather, upper section fitting over the lower portion of the leg.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, practical, durable and economical boot construction. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character in which the maximum of comfort is attained without sacrificing the durability of the boot. Another object is to provide a construction of the above character in which the boot may be unusually comfortable without increasing the cost of manufacture. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a boot having the features of our invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 3 is-a rear View of the same type of boot shown in Figures 1 and 2, but having another embodiment of our invention incorporated therein.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to Figure 1 in which is shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, there is a lower, rubber section generally indicated at Hi, shaped to fit about the foot of the wearer. An upper, leather section, generally indicated at H, is secured to lower section ID as by stitching generally indicated at l2. The boot is in the general form of a hunting boot having a tongue 13, the usual lacing generally indicated at M, and a boot strap l5, all of conventional construction. At the bottom of the upper boot section l I the lacing margins come together in abutting relationship so that the lower margin of the upper boot section and stitching 12 extend continuously across the vamp of the boot, and in fact extend around the entire upper margin of the lower boot section.

In boots of this type now in use, there is a ridge or irregularity formed along the interior surface of the boot adjacent the heel of the wearer. This irregularity is caused by the seam or iunction of 2 the upper, leather section and the lower, rubber section. Further irregularities may occur after use, for the leather section has a tendency to wrinkle. Where such boots are worn constantly, the boot tends to slide somewhat along the heel and back of the leg of the wearer, and this ridge or irregularit irritates the skin surface causing blisters or other types of sores. It is an object of this invention to eliminate these diificulties.

The rear portion iii of the lower, rubber section Iii, as best seen in Figure 2, extends upwardly to a point above the heel of the wearer and the counter portion with the upper edge lfia being substantially at ankle height adjacent the lower portion of the leg. Thus the edge IBa of this rear portion I6, as well as the stitches 12, are spaced above the heel of the wearer and do not engage the heel when the boot is worn. This edge which forms an irregularity in the interior surface of the boot thus is located on the upper section of the boot where there is practically no relative movement between the boot and. the leg of the wearer. The topor upper edge Ilia of rear portion i6 is curved forwardly and downwardly to the side wall portions where it is connected thereto with this upper edge merging with the upper edges of the side wall portions at a level which is substantially that of the top of the vamp of the boot. The side wall portions are connected to the vamp portion with the upper edge extending upwardly and thence at a higher level over the central portion of the vamp. The entire lower boot section being of rubber does not wrinkle and tends to return to its originalconfiguration at any time that it is deformed. The construction is such that a snug fit is attained while at the same time the upper edge I'Ba is urged somewhat to the rear away from the foot of the wearer. That is, when the boot is being laced up and the lacing margins are drawn together, the side walls of the upper boot section I I transmit forces to the lower boot section which tend to draw the rear side wall portions of the lower boot section in against the sides of the foot. In this way the flexible and yet firm rubber walls tend to maintain an unwrinkled condition and the upper rear edge is arched rearwardly away from the heel of the wearer so that the pressure is relieved at edge 16a at the rear of the boot. Consequently, with'thev only irregularity in position above the heel and leather wrinkles avoided, there can be no irritating efiect when the boot is worn.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the lower section IE! has a rear, upwardly extending portion lea terminating at the top of the boot. The

upper section II of the boot is divided into two portions Ha and lib, which are stitched to the lower section II] along the border thereof. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 3, sections Ila and Nb, are secured by stitching to the upwardly extending portion Illa, of the section I0. In this manner, there is no leather to wrinkle nor is there any ridge or irregularity in the rear portion of the boot and particularly at the heel portion, and accordingly, irritation to the heel of the'wearer is avoided.

Accordingly, the various objects of this invention have been achieved in a practical manner in the structure described above.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it

' tion having its upper edge extending to substantially ankle level above the counter portion thereof and curving forwardlyand downwardly to the side wall portions where said side and rear wall portions are connected with said upper edge of the rear wall portion merging with the upper edges of said side wall portions at a level which is substantially that of thetop of the vamp of the boot, and an upper boot section formed of leather or like material and shaped to fit about the ankle and'calf of the wearer and having abottom edge which is attached to the top edge of the lower boot section with the adjacent edge portions of the two sections being substantially parallel throughout and with said upper boot section terminating at its connecting margin with said lower boot section,said upper boot section having its side portions terminating at the front thereof in 4 and having a bottom edge which is attached to the top edge of the lower boot section with the adjacent edge portions of the two sections being substantially parallel throughout and said upper boot section terminating in a lower margin which overlaps and is stitched to said lower boot section,

said upper boot section having its side portions terminating at the front thereof in lacing margins, said lacing margins approaching and meeting each other at the vamp of the boot so that transmitted to thelower boot section, and the a lower boot section is pulled generally against the lacing margins, whereby, upon said lacing margins being drawn together, the side walls of said upperboot section are pulled snugly around the foot and lower leg of the wearer with thepulling action thereof being transmitted to the lower 1 boot section, and whereby the lower boot section wall portions, a rear wall portion, and a vamp portion, said rear wall portion having its upper edge extending'to substantially ankle level above the counter portion thereof and curving forwardly and downwardly to the side wall portions where it is connected thereto with its upper edge merging with the upper edge of said side wall portions at a level which is substantially that of the s top; of the vampof the boot; and an upper boot section formed .of leather .or like material and shaped to fit about the lower leg'of the wearer:

lacing margins.

foot'and the rear of said bottom section is arched rearwardly above the counter portion thereof.

3. In a boot construction, the combination of, a lower one-piece boot section'formed of rubber or like material and having aheeland sole por tion and'a peripheral wall construction which in cludes low side wall portions, a rear wall portion, and a vamp portion, said rear wall portion having its upper edge extending to substantially'ankle edges extending upwardly at the top of said vamp.

portion and joining'at' a level which. is'higher than the upper edges oflsaid side wall'portions,

and an upper boot section formed of leather or 7 like material and shaped to fit about the ankle and lower leg of the'wearer and having a bottomedge which is attached to the top edge of the lower boot section with the adjacentiedge portions of the two sections being substantially parallel throughout and with said upper boot section terminating at its connecting margin with said lower boot section, said upper boot section having its side portions'terminating at the front thereof in EDWARD v. JAEGER, a RALPH M. PLYMPTON.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: W 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS v 7 V Date Number Name 223,783 WatkinsOn Jan. 20', 1880 1,334,009 Archambeau Mar. 16, 1920 1,620,712 Bean Mar. 15, 1927 2,347,191 McGillicuddy Apr. 25, 1944 2,068,811 McCrory Jan. 26, 1937 2,132,966 Ales ci Oct. 4, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date.

' 77,500 Sweden 'June 6,1933

231,690 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1925 273,968 Great Britain Ju1yv 14,1927

1 Great Britain 1 June 6, 1930 

